The United Auto Workers (UAW) union seems to be nearing updated agreements with Ford, General Motors (GM) and Stellantis after ongoing strikes have plagued the automakers for nearly four weeks following the expiration of previous worker contracts.
According to the union and the companies, the so-called “Big Three” have offered to increase wages by between 20 and 23 percent over a four-year period in the latest contract updates (via Reuters). Ford and Chrysler parent Stellantis have also reinstated cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) and have cut the time it takes temporary employees to reach top pay.
Still, more progress is needed for the union and the automakers to reach an agreement.
Reuters reports that the most significant remaining obstacles to a deal are pension plans and the inclusion of future electric vehicle (EV) battery plants in the contracts. The UAW is demanding the companies restore defined benefit pension plans ruled out in 2007, along with including workers at future battery plants within the contracts.
None of the automakers have offered the restoration of pre-2007 pension plans at this point.
Ford offers UAW “unprecedented” pay raises in its seventh offer
Reuters notes that restoring pre-2007 defined pension plans would add multibillion-dollar liabilities back into company balance sheets, which were largely unloaded by both GM and Chrysler in 2009 when the companies filed for bankruptcy.
Although automakers haven’t offered to restore the defined pension plans, people familiar with the talks say that negotiations have touched on potential solutions with added income security. These solutions have looked at the automakers offering annuities as an investment option for 401(k) savings plans, and Stellantis explored a more generous 401(k) offering with a potential annuity plan in a September 22 proposal to the UAW.
Additionally, Ford and GM reached contract agreements with the union Unifor, which represents the company’s many workers at Canadian manufacturing facilities. Notably, the agreements included plans to shift workers to hybrid retirement plans through nonprofit fund manager CAAT, which will work like defined-contribution retirement plans and will avoid adding benefit liability to the company’s balance sheets.
The inclusion of EV battery plant workers has also been a key component of negotiations, with Ford CEO Jim Farley recently saying that the UAW had been holding the automaker “hostage” over future battery plants — despite the company not having hired for the facilities yet.
The automaker also halted construction on a Michigan battery plant being built in conjunction with Chinese manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co (CATL) late last month. Ford also plans to work with South Korean battery manufacturer SK On on three other battery plants.
“While Ford remains open to the possibility of working with the UAW on future battery plants in the United States, these are multi-billion-dollar investments and must operate at competitive and sustainable levels,” Ford said in a more recent statement.
GM avoided additional strike escalations last week after making last-minute concessions to include joint venture battery plants under the contracts. As of negotiations on Wednesday, GM has not revealed further details about the wage or benefit details of the agreement.
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Elon Musk
Tesla China posts strong February wholesale growth at Gigafactory Shanghai
The update was shared by Tesla observers on social media platform X, citing monthly China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data.
Tesla China sold 58,599 vehicles wholesale in February, reflecting strong year-over-year growth. The figure includes both domestic deliveries in China and vehicles exported to international markets.
The update was shared by Tesla observers on social media platform X, citing monthly China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data.
Tesla’s February wholesale result represents a 91% increase year over year, compared with 30,688 vehicles in February 2025. Month over month, the result was down 15.2% from January, when Tesla China recorded 69,129 wholesale units.
The February total reflects combined sales of the Model 3 and Model Y produced at Gigafactory Shanghai. The facility produces the two vehicles for both domestic sales and exports.
Gigafactory Shanghai continues to serve as Tesla’s primary vehicle export hub, supplying vehicles to markets across Asia and Europe. Data compiled by Tesla watchers shows that 18,485 vehicles were sold domestically in China in January 2026, while exports accounted for 50,644 units during the same period.
Tesla has also been extending financing programs in China as it pushes to strengthen domestic demand. The company recently extended its seven-year ultra-low-interest and five-year interest-free financing programs through March 31, marking the second extension of the promotion this year.
The financing initiative was first introduced on January 6 as a strategy aimed at offsetting higher ownership costs ahead of China’s planned 5% NEV purchase tax in 2026. The promotion was originally scheduled to expire at the end of January before being extended to February and then again through the end of the first quarter.
Tesla’s efforts come amid growing competition in China’s EV market. According to data compiled by CNEV Post, Tesla’s 2025 retail sales in China reached 625,698 vehicles, representing a 4.78% year-over-year decline. Part of that decline was linked to the Model Y changeover to its updated variant in early 2025, which temporarily reduced deliveries during the transition period.
News
Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia
One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier.
Tesla’s upcoming Model Y L has been spotted on transport trucks in Australia. Sightings of the six-seat extended wheelbase Model Y variant have been reported on social media platform X by members of the Australian Tesla community.
One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier.
The sighting follows earlier observations by Tesla enthusiasts in Sydney, where a covered vehicle believed to be a Model Y L was spotted at a Supercharger.
The Sydney sighting drew attention after observers noted that the vehicle’s tare weight appeared to match the ADR approval listing for the Model Y L, suggesting it could indeed be the extended wheelbase variant of the electric SUV.
Tesla has previously confirmed that the Model Y L will launch in Australia and New Zealand in 2026. The confirmation was reported by techAU following a media release from Tesla Australia and New Zealand.
The Model Y L expands the existing Model Y lineup with seating for six passengers. The vehicle features a longer body compared with the standard Model Y in order to accommodate a spacious second and third row.
Tesla has opted for a 2-2-2 seating configuration instead of a traditional seven-seat layout for the Model Y L. The design includes two individual seats in the middle row to provide easier access to the third row and additional passenger space.
Tesla Australia and New Zealand has also stated that the Model Y L will be covered under the company’s updated warranty structure beginning in 2026.
Tesla has not yet announced pricing or official range figures for the Model Y L in Australia.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk shares timeframe for X Money early public access rollout
X Money is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Elon Musk has stated that X Money, the digital payments system being developed for social media platform X, is expected to enter early public access next month.
The update was shared by Musk in a post on X. “𝕏 Money early public access will launch next month,” Musk wrote in his post.
As noted in a Reuters report, X Money is being developed as a digital payment service that’s directly integrated into the X platform.
The system is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Musk has previously discussed plans to introduce payments and financial services as part of X’s broader development.
Since acquiring the platform in 2022, Musk has discussed expanding X to include a range of services such as messaging, media, and financial tools.
Elon Musk has shared his goal of transforming X into an “everything app.” During a previous podcast interview with members of the Tesla community, Musk mused about turning X into something similar to China’s WeChat, which allows users to shop, pay, communicate, and perform a variety of other tasks.
“In China, you do everything in WeChat… it’s kickass… Outside of China, there’s nothing like it, people live on one app. My idea would be like how about if we just copy WeChat,” Musk joked at the time.
To prepare for the rollout of X Money, X has partnered with payment company Visa to support the development of payment services for the platform’s users. The move could allow X to tap into the growing demand for digital and in-app financial transactions as the company builds additional services around its existing user base.
Tesla China posts strong February wholesale growth at Gigafactory Shanghai
Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia
